Our Mission
Aimed Dance, a 501(c)3 performing arts organization, seeks to foster an awareness of and value for dance as a fine art within our community by providing educational programs, live performance events, and a professional network. Cultivating a sense of collaboration, Aimed Dance strives to engage, invest, and inspire our community while offering access and exposure to past, present, and future dance ideologies.
Our Vision
Aimed Dance dreams of a community socially and globally aware of the impact dance and other fine arts may have and how these benefits improve not only our personal development but our cultural and economical success.
Our History
A Vision in Motion: The Story of Aimed Dance
Founded in 2006 by choreographer and educator Amy Elizabeth, Aimed Dance began as a bold vision to bring contemporary dance into deeper conversation with community, education, and artistic risk. Originally established under the name Rednerrus Feil Dance Company, the organization laid its early roots in Houston, Texas, before eventually relocating to Beaumont — where its growth, identity, and impact has expanded significantly.
Today, Aimed Dance is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) dance company based in Southeast Texas. Known for its dynamic performances, residencies, and artist development programs, the organization operates with a clear mission: to foster awareness of and value for dance as a fine art in our community through performance, education, and community engagement.
From Houston to Beaumont: A Strategic Relocation
In 2017, Amy Elizabeth joined the faculty of Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, bringing Aimed Dance along with her. This move allowed the organization to deepen its educational focus, align with an academic institution, and engage a new regional audience. The partnership with Lamar University continues to provide space for rehearsals, performances, and collaboration with emerging dancers and choreographers.
Building a Model of Residency and Community Engagement
At the heart of Aimed Dance’s programming is a dual-residency model:
- A Winter Residency, held in January, focuses on risk-taking in choreography and performance.
- The Summer Fest, launched in 2021, is an intensive three-week residency that combines master classes, open community workshops, emerging choreographer fellowships, and public performances.
Each year, Summer Fest attracts dancers, choreographers, and teaching artists from across the region and beyond. The event includes multiple weekends of concerts, pre-show artist talks (ArTalks), and open community classes designed to invite the public into the process of dance creation and performance.
A Platform for Emerging Artists
Aimed Dance is not only a performance company — it is a platform for emerging artists. Through its Emerging Choreographer Fellowships, the organization commissions new works and invites guest choreographers to share their voice with Southeast Texas audiences. Past fellows and collaborators have included renowned artists such as Lilly Thurman of Bones Dance Project, Jessie Ferguson of Boots Dance Project, Anna Bauer, Morgan Sandlin, Abby Jones, Olivia Morrow, Giada Jiang, Natalie Katz and more.
Internship opportunities in performance, arts administration, and production offer pre-professional dancers real-world experience within a supportive and challenging environment. These efforts reflect Aimed Dance’s commitment to noncompetitive, collaborative growth in the arts.
Creative Leadership
Founder and Artistic Director Amy Elizabeth brings more than 20 years of experience in professional dance and arts administration. She holds a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Dance from Sam Houston State University and an MBA from Lamar University. Her vision for Aimed Dance has always been grounded in inclusivity, innovation, and the belief that dance can transform both individuals and communities.
Her leadership continues to guide the organization’s artistic direction, from curating festivals to mentoring young dancers and choreographers.
Our Impact
Over nearly two decades, Aimed Dance has:
- Produced dozens of concerts and choreographic premieres
- Offered residencies, fellowships, and internships for early-career dance artists
- Established an annual Summer Fest that draws wide regional participation
- Created inclusive, accessible dance programming through open community classes
- Partnered with Lamar University to integrate academic study with live performance
The company remains committed to expanding visibility for contemporary dance in Southeast Texas and fostering long-term support for the arts in underserved communities.
Looking Ahead
As Aimed Dance enters its next chapter, the organization looks to expand its artistic partnerships, deepen community engagement, and explore new formats for performance and education. The company continues to champion artistic risk, collaborative process, and access to dance — creating space for both artists and audiences to move, connect, and grow.